Slingshot assembly

ABSTRACT

A slingshot assembly separable into component parts for shipping and storage, and forming an accurate, arm-braced device for use. Components of the device are a handle having a grooved crown, a hook assembly and an arm brace fitting frictionally within the grooves, and a retaining clip for preventing forward shifting of the components within the grooves. The arm brace has a U-shaped portion that frictionally engages grooves in the crown and extends around the forward end of the crown. While in the grooves the clip is positioned over the arm brace at the forward end of the crown. The rear portion of the clip is positioned over the rear portion of the crown.

mted States atent 1191 1111 3,812,831 Saunders May 28, 1974 SLINGSHOT ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne 75lt:ChlA.Sd,l, 1 men or r as CO umbus Attorney, Agent, or F1rml(egan, Kegan & Berkman {73] Assignee: Saunders Archery Co., Columbus, 57 ABSTRACT Nebr' A slingshot assembly separable into component parts [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1973 for shipping and storage, and forming an accurate, arm-braced device for use. Components of the device [21] Appl' 350906 are a handle having a grooved crown, a hook assembly and an arm brace fitting frictionally within the {52] US. Cl. 124/20 R, 124/30 R grooves, and a retaining clip for preventing forward [51] Int. Cl. F411) 7/00 shifting of the components within the grooves. The [58] Field of Search 124/20 R, 20 A, 20 B, 30 R, arm brace has a U-shaped portion that frictionally en- 124/26, 27 gages grooves in the crown and extends around the forward end of the crown. While in the grooves the [56] References Cited clip is positioned over the arm brace at the forward UNXTED STATES PATENTS end of the crown. The rear portion of the clip is posi- 3 511 221 5 1970 Saunders 124/20 R (med over the rear Portion of crown 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED was 1914 SHEEI 2 OF 2 1 SLINGSHOT ASSEMBLY The instant invention relates to slingshots used for target shooting and for hunting. More particularly, the invention is directed to a slingshot assembly separable into component parts for shipment and storage. The completed device may be used with and without an arm brace.

Many slingshots are known in the prior art, both with and without arm braces. However, each of these prior art weapons has suffered from one or more disadvantages preventing their optimum utilization for the purpose intended.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide distinct components which can be assembled by hand to form a completed slingshot in either of two different forms-with or without an arm brace.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a retainer clip for maintaining the various component parts of the slingshot in assembled relation with one another.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arm brace for preventing unwanted turning or shifting of the slingshot and for relieving stress on the wrist upon application of pulling force to elastic bands supported on the slingshot.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon inspection of the following specification considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled slingshot of the invention, including an arm brace;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the slingshot of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled slingshot, the broken lines indicating positions of a collar attached to the arm brace and of a yoke continuous with hooks supporting elastic bands, in relation to a surmounting crown on the slingshot handle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slingshot assembly of the invention, separated into its five individual components;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the surmounting crown of the slingshot handle, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in section, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, showing the relationship of the retaining clip to the various parts supported on the handle.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a slingshot 10 of the invention, including a generally upright handle 11, a hook assembly 12, a pair of elastic bands 13 secured to a pouch 14, an arm brace 15, and a retaining clip 16.

The separate parts or members of the slingshot 10 are shown in FIG. 4. The handle 11 is made of plastic or wood and it is formed' with a piston-type grip. Surmounting the handle 11 is a crown 20 formed with a pair of generally horizontal grooves 21 opening outwardly laterally and forwardly of the crown. The top surface 22 of the crown 20 is formed with a shallow, longitudinally extending channel 23 adapted to receive the retaining clip 16 therein.

The hook assembly 12 is a symmetrically bent, highstrength metal rod which includes a centrally situated U-shaped yoke 31. The yoke 31 includes a bight portion 32 and a pair of integrally formed parallel arms 33 extending rearwardly therefrom. The arms 33 are adapted to seat within the grooves 21 and to form a tight frictional fit therewith. Integrally formed with the arms 33 of the yoke 31 are a pair of reversely curved hooks 34, each extending upwardly of and at right angles to the arms 33. The hooks 34 each terminate in ends 35.

The two elastic band means or bands 13 are hollow tubes of an elastomeric material, each of which is adapted for frictional attachment over an end 35 of a corresponding hook 34. A sling-like pouch 41 is secured to each band 13 at a distal end 42 thereof. Each proximal end 43 of the bands 13 is attached to a corresponding hook 34. The pouch 41 is made of flexible plastic and it is formed with a shallow depression (not shown) for cradling projectiles to be hurled.

An arm brace 15 provides support against the forearm of the user when pulling force is applied to the elastic bands 13. The brace 15 includes a generally U- shaped collar 51 consisting of a curved front section 52 and a pair of elongated, rearwardly directed parallel legs 53 formed integrally with the collar 51. Each leg 53 includes a handle gripped section 54 adapted to seat in frictional engagement within the groove 21 on the handle 11. Terminal sections 55 of the legs 53 extend rearwardly of each handle gripped section 54. The terminal sections 55 are marked by a series of bends 56, 57 and 58 providing means for supporting a strap 59 adjacent to the forearm of a user. The strap 59 spans the two terminal sections 55 and it is made of a flexible plastic material. The strap 59 is adaptable to forearms of various sizes and shapes and it serves to spread applied force over a wide area of the arm, thereby preventing discomfort.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is seen that the parallel arms 33 of the yoke 31 are spaced apart laterally a greater distance than are the handle gripped sections 54 of the brace 15. Because of the wider spread of the arms 33 compared with the handle gripped sections 54, both the arms 33 and the handle gripped sections 54 fit concurrently within the same grooves 21 on the handle 11. This slingshot is also suited for use without an arm brace, in which case only the yoke 31 will be placed within the grooves 21.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 6, a metal retaining clip 16 acts as a safety device for maintaining the various parts of the slingshot in assembled relation. The clip 16 includes a web 61 adapted to fit within a channel 23 on the top surface 22 of the handle 11. The clip 16 includes a forward, first hook means or hook 62 which fits over the anterior end of the bight portion of the yoke 32, and a rearward, second hook means or hook 63 adapted to engage a rearward edge of the crown 20. The retaining clip 16 effectively precludes any forward shifting of elements retained within the groove 21 on the handle 11.

The foregoing description of the invention has been made with reference to a preferred embodiment only. It will be understood that many modifications in form can be made without departing from the spirt and scope of the invention-as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slingshot assembly separable into distinct components for storage and shipment and forming a unitary structure for use, said assembly comprising a generally upright handle including a surmounting crown, said crown having opposed lateral side walls being formed with a pair of generally horizontal yoke-accepting grooves opening laterally outwardly from front to rear along said crown;

a generally U-shaped yoke looped about a forward extremity of said handle, said yoke comprising a high-strength rod including a bight portion and a pair of parallel arms integral therewith and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said arms including sections removably locked within said grooves in firm and frictionally secured engagement with the crown of said handle; and

a pair of generally symmetrical, forwardly projecting,

reversely curved hooks integral with said yoke and joined thereto at corresponding said arms'thereof, said hooks including ends adapted for attachment of an elastic band thereto.

2. The slingshot assembly of claim 1 and further comprising tubular elastic band means secured to each said terminal end sections of said hooks for projecting projectiles;

a sling-like pouch for cradling projectiles to be hurled from said slingshot; and

means securing said pouch to said band means at ends of said band means opposed to ends thereof attached to said hooks.

3. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, wherein said bight portion and said arms of said yoke define a first, generally horizontal plane, and wherein said hooks each define a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

4. The slingshot assembly of claim I, wherein said a web adapted to seat within said channel;

first hook means formed integrally with said web at a forward end thereof and adapted to overlap and to engage said yoke; and

second hook means formed integrally with said web at a rearward end thereof and adapted to engage a rearward edge of said crown, thereby to secure said clip means in engagement with said crown.

5. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, wherein said yoke and said hooks constitute an integral structure shaped from a single, continuous, high-strength rod.

6. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a brace adapted to steady said slingshot against the forearm of a user, said brace comprising a generally U-shaped collar separate and distinct from said yoke and comprising a curved front section and a pair of elongated, rearwardly directed parallel legs integral therewith, said legs including handle gripped sections removably seated in firm and secured engagement within corresponding opposed said grooves in said crown, said handle gripped sections being generally coextensive with said arms of said yoke; and

strap means bridging said legs and secured thereto, and abutting against and bearing downwardly upon the forearm of a user, thereby to stabilize said slingshot against shifting upon application of pulling forces to elastic band means secured to said hooks.

7. The slingshot assembly of claim 6, wherein said parallel arms of said U-shaped yoke are spaced laterally from one another more widely than are the handle crown includes a generally horizontal top surface gripp d seCtiOnS 0f Said brace, r y Said a o formed with a longitudinally extending channel, and wherein said assembly further comprises clip means for preventing longitudinal shifting of said yoke with respect to said handle, said clip means including said yoke seat within said grooves alongside and laterally outwardly of said handle gripped sections of said brace. 

1. A slingshot assembly separable into distinct components for storage and shipment and forming a unitary structure for use, said assembly comprising a generally upright handle including a surmounting crown, said crown having opposed lateral side walls being formed with a pair of generally horizontal yoke-accepting grooves opening laterally outwardly from front to rear along said crown; a generally U-shaped yoke looped about a forward extremity of said handle, said yoke comprising a high-strength rod including a bight portion and a pair of parallel arms integral therewith and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said arms including sections removably locked within said grooves in firm and frictionally secured engagement with the crown of said handle; and a pair of generally symmetrical, forwardly projecting, reversely curved hooks integral with said yoke and joined thereto at corresponding said arms thereof, said hooks including ends adapted for attachment of an elastic band thereto.
 2. The slingshot assembly of claim 1 and further comprising tubular elastic band means secured to each said terminal end sections of said hooks for projecting projectiles; a sling-like pouch for cradling projectiles to be hurled from said slingshot; and means securing said pouch to said band means at ends of said band means opposed to ends thereof attached to said hooks.
 3. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, wherein said bight portion and said arms of said yoke define a first, generally horizontal plane, and wherein said hooks each define a plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane.
 4. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, wherein said crown includes a generally horizontal top surface formed with a longitudinally extending channel, and wherein said assembly further comprises clip means for preventing longitudinal shifting of said yoke with respect to said handle, said clip means including a web adapted to seat within said channel; first hook means formed integrally with said web at a forward end thereof and adapted to overlap and to engage said yoke; and second hook means formed integrally with said web at a rearward end thereof and adapted to engage a rearward edge of said crown, thereby to secure said clip means in engagement with said crown.
 5. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, wherein said yoke and said hooks constitute an integral structure shaped from a single, continuous, high-strength rod.
 6. The slingshot assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a brace adapted to steady said slingshot against the forearm of a user, said brace comprising a generally U-shaped collar separate and distinct from said yoke and comprising a curved front section and a pair of elongated, rearwardly directed parallel legs integral therewith, said legs including handle gripped sections removably seated in firm and secured engagement within corresponding opposed said grooves in said crown, said handle gripped sections being generally coextensive with said arms of said yoke; and strap means bridging said legs and secured thereto, and abutting against and bearing downwardly upon the forearm of a user, thereby to stabilize said slingshot against shifting upon application of pulling forces to elastic band means secured to said hooks.
 7. The slingshot assembly of claim 6, wherein said parallel arms of said U-shaped yoke are spaced laterally from one another more widely than are the handle gripped sections of said brace, whereby said arms of said yoke seat within said grooves alongside and laterally outwardly of said handle gripped sections of said brace. 